UNITED STATES SHIP BENEWAH
2nd River Raider Brigade Headquarters
Song My Tho Vicinity of Dong Tam - Dinh Tuong Province - IV CTZ

PHOTOGRAPHIC ACCOUNT OF A DELTA COMPANY, 3/60 INFANTRY, SEARCH & DESTROY MISSION

2ND BRIGADE GUIDON

HOLD CURSOR ON THUMBNAIL FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
SOUTHWEST CORNER OF DONG TAM SHOWING HARBOR AND INLET    MRF ANCHORED OFF POINT OF DONG TAM INLET - 6 JUL 69 MRF ANCHORAGE ON SONG MY THO SOUTHWEST DONG TAM - MAR 69

During 1969 the vessels Task Force 116 - Mobile Riverine Force - were anchored on the My Tho River, west of the inlet to Dong Tam Harbor, off the southwest corner of the base. The HQ ship for 2nd Brigade was the USS Benewah and the flagship for River Assault Squadron 9 - the USS Mercer. The MRF had been created in June 1967 to conduct sustained waterborne operations in Division areas primarily accessible by water.

 

 VIEW OF THE MRF ANCHORED IN THE SONG MY THO FROM THE USS MERCER    USS BENEWAH ANCHORED IN THE SONG MY THO - 5 JUL 69

The US Navy billeted elements of the 2nd Brigade aboard four ships called APBs (amphibious propelled barracks) and one modified LST (landing ship tank). The 2nd Brigade also manned a complex of land bases in Kien Hoa Province collectively called Tigers Lair (in honor of 3/47 Tiger Battalion). The APBs were APB-35 USS Benewah, APB- 36 USS Colleton, APB-39 USS Mercer, and APB-40 USS Nueces. All APBs were converted from LSTs after World War II.

The 2nd Brigade derived its nickname River Raiders from the first Army-Navy joint operation River Raider I, which commenced on February 16, 1967.
The 2nd Brigade's three maneuver battalions were the infantry element of the MRF. These battalions were: the 3/47, 4/47, and the 3/60. Artillery support was provided by the 3/34 Artillery. The 3/60 received the distinction of being the first 9th Infantry Division infantry battalion withdrawn from Vietnam (July 8, 1969). Of the Division's ten Medal of Honor recipients decorated during the Vietnam War, four were from the 3/60 Infantry.

MRF LAND BASE AT TIGERS LAIR - MAIN GATE -15 MAY 69   AREA NEAR TIGERS LAIR - 15 MAY 69   1965 MAP OF MRF'S LAND BASE AT TIGERS LAIR
   9TH AVN BATTALION C-IN-C HELICOPTER ON USS BENEWAH - 6 JUL 69    2ND BRIGADE "CYCLOPS" AVIATION SECTION   MRF US NAVY REPAIR SHIP - 6 JUL 69  MRF FINAL REVIEW - 6 JUL 69

The 2nd Brigade's final awards ceremony and review of the MRF occurred on July 6, 1969, two days prior to the 3/60 Infantry Battalion's departure from Vietnam. The ceremony took place on the Song My Tho (River) with the reviewing stand aboard the USS Benewah.

  

The 2nd Brigade land base at Tigers Lair was in a dense coconut grove off of Route TL-25, which ran parallel to the Ben Tre River as far as the Chet Say Cu River ferry. The ferry had replaced a bridge that had been demolished by ARVN forces during Tet 68 to deny the enemy access into Ben Tre. Tigers Lair had been established during the fall of 1968. The 9th ID Band performed at a change of command ceremony at Tigers Lair on May 15, 1969, when LTC Bruce Williams assumed command of the 3/47 Infantry Battalion from LTC Ishmel Pack.       

Flight Quarters! The four LOH-6A helicopters assigned to the 2nd Brigade's aviation section were identified with a distinctive Cyclops insignia. Loach #16412 has the Cyclops designator painted on its tail-boom support. The APB's 45' square (with 37' extension for standing aircraft) flight deck could accommodate three Loaches or Slicks with one cranking up or one Chinook.
 

USS MERCER ANCHORED IN SONG MY THO - 5 JUL 69

 The USS Mercer was the flag ship for US Navy Task Force 117.
   

INDICATED MONTHS OF COMMAND ARE APPROXIMATE

    

3/60 RIVERINE INFANTRY BATTALION COMMANDERS

  

2ND BRIGADE COMMANDERS

   4/47 RIVERINE INFANTRY BATTALION COMMANDERS

DEC 1966 - MAY 1967

   LTC Edwin W. Chamberlain  

JAN 1979 - AUG 1967

   COL William B. Fulton   JAN 1967 - AUG 1967   LTC Guy I. Tutwiler

MAY 1967 - DEC 1967

   LTC Mercer M. Dotty  

AUG 1967 - APR 1968

   COL Bert A. David   AUG 1967 - unknown   LTC R. M. Rhotenberry

DEC 1967 - unknown

   LTC John G. Hill  

APR 1968 - SEP 1968

   COL Robert E. Archer   unknown - SEP 1967   LTC Lawrence E. Bryan

unknown

  

      unknown

  

SEP 1968 - JAN 1969

   COL George E. Bland WIA*  

unknown

  

      unknown

unknown - DEC 1968

   LTC George E. Marine  

JAN 1969 - FEB 1969

   LTC Ishmael Pack Acting CO   SEP 1968- JAN 1969   LTC William J. Ankley

DEC 1968 - JUN 1969

   LTC Peter B. Petersen  

FEB 1969 - JUL 1969 

  COL Rodman C. Rainville   JAN 1969 - JUL 1969   LTC Howard W. Snyder
            *January 9, 1969        
         
  3/47 RIVERINE INFANTRY BATTALION COMMANDERS  
  JAN 1967 - JUN 1967   LTC Lucien E. Bolduc, Jr.  
  JUN 1967 - unknown   LTC Bruce E. Wallace  
  unknown - MAR 1968   LTC Ivan C. Bland  
  MAR 1968 - unknown   LTC Reed S. Schultz  
  NOV 1968 - MAY 1969   LTC Ishmael Pack  
  MAY 1969 - JUL 1969   LTC Bruce Williams  

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